So you’ve decided to ditch cigarettes in favour of a vape device to take your health back into your own hands. The trouble is, with so many liquids, devices and accessories to choose from, you’re unsure where to start.
Luckily, we’re on hand with a checklist of all the essentials you’ll need as a first-time vaper. Once you’ve read through this guide, you should know what to buy and what to avoid, ensuring you’re fully prepared to make your vaping journey a roaring success.
1: Device
First off, you’ll need a vape device. After all, it’d be difficult to start vaping without one! There are various device types to choose from, but only a few of them are suitable for novices. We’ll go over them here, so you can decide which one sounds like it’s the most suitable.
Before we do that, let’s just take a quick crash course in vaping styles. If you’re unfamiliar with different vaping styles, there are three you need to know about: mouth-to-lung (MTL), direct-to-lung (DTL) and restricted directing-to-lung (RDL).
MTL is the vaping style most similar to puffing on a cigarette. You simply inhale the vapour into your mouth before taking it into the lungs, like you would if you were smoking.
DTL is where you take the vapour straight to the lungs. Devices that suit this vaping style tend to be powerful and unsuitable for beginners.
RDL lies somewhere between MTL and RDL.
You’ll see why having an understanding of these vaping styles is important when we discuss different devices below.
Disposable Vapes
If you’ve never vaped before, a good place to start might be disposables. The ease and convenience of these devices are standout features, meaning users require no prior knowledge to get started.
This allows you to try out vaping and see whether it’s for you without the need to invest in a more expensive kit.
Disposables are also smooth, and extremely tasty, and come with 40mg of fast-acting nicotine salts, making them great for ex-smokers looking for an immediate hit! Additionally, most disposables will last for at least 600 puffs (approx), allowing you to get used to this new hobby before buying a refillable kit.
The reason we advise customers to move onto a refillable device shortly after starting is because, although disposables offer the easiest and most simplified vaping experience possible, that convenience comes at a premium as they tend to cost quite a bit more. Around twice as much, to be precise.
There are also questions over the future of disposables, with lawmakers mulling over a ban due to environmental and age-related concerns. So while we encourage beginners to use disposables as a test device, we would suggest investing in a refillable kit shortly afterwards as these are kinder to not only the planet but also your finances!
You can check out our guide to disposable vapes, where you can learn more about disposable vapes. If you are already sold and want to get one (or more), you can buy them HERE!
Starter Kits
When many enter the wonderful world of vaping, they opt for a starter kit. As the name suggests, these kits are designed for beginners and feature everything you need to get started.
Starter kits usually contain a pen-style device. These are low-powered and provide a smooth, simple vape, ensuring their suitability for beginners.
They’ll also come with replacement coils and perhaps even an e-liquid or two to get you started.
The pen devices that come with starter kits provide an MTL vape. This makes them perfect for ex-smokers as the sensation will be similar to what they’re used to when smoking. You can also use stronger e-liquids with these devices, as the low power and ratio of ingredients (more on that later) limit the amount of vapour produced.
So all in all, starter kits are perfect for beginners, and we highly recommend them for any beginner making their first foray into vaping.
We wrote an ultimate guide to start vaping for beginners! If you already know that you want a starter kit, you can find our collection HERE!
Pod Kits
Designed to be as simple and convenient as possible, pod kits are a clever evolution of vaping devices that only hit the market a few short years ago. Since their arrival, they’ve become a go-to choice for many vapers, and they’re particularly attractive to beginners due to their uncomplicated nature.
These kits typically consist of two main components: the battery/mod and the pod. The pods are removable, so if you want to change liquids, rather than having to drain your tank and add more liquid like you would with a normal device, with a pod kit you can just swap pods in seconds.
This means you can have multiple flavours on rotation, which is great if you enjoy a bit of variety or get bored of the taste quickly.
Most pod kits come with limited buttons (or none at all) so they’re ideal for beginners who don’t yet know their way around a vape kit. Likewise, they suit anyone who just prefers the convenience of puffing and go!
Pod devices are also great for anyone who hates changing coils! Rather than fiddling around with the old coil and getting e-liquid all over your hands, you just throw your used pod into the bin and swap it for a fresh one.
Most pod kits provide an MTL vape and they’re paired with 50:50 e-liquid (more on this below), which makes them ideal for smokers or beginner vapers as they pair well with stronger liquids and provide a vape experience that’s similar to smoking.
Box Mod/Sub-Ohm Devices
If you’re a beginner, then we strongly advise you to opt for one of the vape devices mentioned above – either a disposable, vape pen/starter kit or a pod device.
The other common type of vape device you’ll come across is a box mod. Although these can, in theory, be used by beginners, we would advise avoiding these when you first start off.
The reason is that they can be a little more complicated to use. They tend to come with many different settings, controls and features, so they probably wouldn’t suit someone who hasn’t yet found their feet.
They can also be powerful, and the vape devices with the most kick can produce massive plumes of vapour. When you’re new to vaping, this may well make you cough and just hamper your vaping experience, which could potentially put you off.
The sensation with a DTL device is also quite a bit different from smoking, so if you’re looking for something that feels familiar then these won’t really cut it.
Lastly, due to the fact that they produce so much vapour, they should usually be paired with a weaker juice. So if you’ve recently quit a 20-a-day smoking habit then these will be unlikely to provide the strength or throat hit needed to stave off those cravings.
Once you’ve become familiar with vape devices and the different ways of vaping then by all means give a DTL kit a try. But in the meantime, it’s probably wise to stick to something a bit more rudimentary until you’ve gained a bit more experience.
You can learn more about vape mod devices from our guide. If you already know that you want one, you can buy them HERE.
2) E-Liquid
Once you’ve purchased your device, you’ll also need some e-liquids to vape with it. But as a beginner, what you may not know is that e-liquids come in different strengths and ratios. So it’s important to select the right one as each of them provides a slightly different vaping experience.
Let’s start with discussing the ingredients. The two main ingredients, vegetable glycerine (VG) and propylene glycol (PG):
Vegetable Glycerine:
The other ingredient that forms the base of your typical e-liquid is vegetable glycerine (VG).
VG is a natural substance derived from plant oils – usually coconut or soybean – and it’s commonly found in skincare products due to its hydrating qualities and in various foods as a sweetener and preservative.
VG is used in e-liquid as it’s safe, produces thick, dense clouds and has a mild, slightly sweet taste which makes it perfect for carrying flavour.
Propylene Glycol:
The other main base ingredient in e-liquid is propylene glycol (PG). This versatile compound is commonly found in cosmetics, food products, and pharmaceuticals.
PG is used as a base ingredient in e-liquid for a number of reasons. First, it’s a safe product that produces vapour when heated up. It’s also flavourless, so it carries the e-liquid’s flavourings well without affecting the overall taste.
Lastly, PG helps provide a throat hit, which many vapers enjoy, especially those who are just quitting smoking and are looking for an experience that mimics the sensation of puffing a cigarette.
We have a blog post explaining VG and PG in great detail. Please find it HERE.
Ratios:
If you come across different ratios, this basically tells you how much of each ingredient is in the juice. So a 50:50 VG:PG juice will be 50 percent VG and 50 percent PG.
So why do e-liquids come in different ratios? Well, although VG and PG are kind of similar, they’re also quite different. You see, VG is thicker and produces bigger, smoother clouds, while PG has a thinner consistency, produces fewer clouds and provides a heavier throat hot.
If you’re just starting out and you want juice to pair with your pen device or pod kit, a 50:50 juice ratio is what you need. This liquid strikes the perfect balance between vapour production, smoothness, and flavour.
A low-powered beginner’s device would be unable to adequately heat up any liquid with a higher proportion of VG. So these juices are unsuitable, as they’ll provide a poor vaping experience and eventually clog up your device.
As well as their ratios, e-liquids also come in different strengths, so you’ll also need to keep this in mind when you come to choosing your juices.
E-liquid strengths usually range from 2mg all the way to 20mg. If you’re a smoker just starting out then chances are you’ll probably want a stronger juice. So opt for a 50/50 e-liquid in a mid-high strength such as a 10mg or 12mg to help keep your nicotine cravings at bay.
3) Coils/Pods
So once you’ve got your device and e-liquid, you’ll be ready to vape. However, you’ll also need some replacement coils or pods ready for when the ones you’re using expire. The type of device you’re using will determine the type of coils you need for your kit.
Coils are pieces of wired metal which heat up the e-liquid that’s soaked into the cotton wick, producing the vapour that’s inhaled. These coils come in a range of different resistances, which determine the amount of heat they allow to pass through. The higher the resistance, the less heat will pass through.
If you didn’t know already, the resistance of a coil is measured in ohms. So the thicker the coil, the higher the ohm and resistance. For example, a coil that is 0.2 ohms will have much less resistance than a coil that’s 2.0 ohms (ten times less, to be precise).
The same can be said for pods, which are just plastic cases with coils inside. Again, these are measured in ohms, in exactly the same way as coils.
So with all this considered, which coils should be paired with which devices? As a beginner, hopefully, you’ll be following our guidance and using an MTL device with a 50:50 liquid. If so, you should opt for a coil or pod between 0.8 ohms and 1.5 ohms.
This is a good range as these coils will allow your device to produce a decent amount of vapour and they’ll be thick enough to ensure the e-liquid doesn’t leak.
We also have a detailed article about coils and pods. Buy coils and pods.
4) Charger
You should get a charger with your device, although in some rare situations, a vape kit might come without one. If you’re unlucky enough to purchase a vape device that comes with no charger, then this is something else you’ll need to source.
Just check the packaging or the manufacturer’s website, as this should tell you the type of charger you need. Most are compatible with a Type-C charger, while some of the older models may use a Micro-USB.
5) Carry Case
This might not be as essential as some of the other inclusions on this list, but it’ll help keep your device safe and protected, so it certainly deserves a mention!
Carry cases are small protective pouches where you store your kit. This ensures they don’t leak in your bag or get damaged after coming into contact with other items. They also make it less likely you’ll lose your vape, so the benefits are endless!
For those who like to be organised and keep their belongings safe, a case really is a vaping essential.
6) Cleaning Materials
Cleaning your device is probably one of the least exciting parts of vaping. However, if you want your device to provide a great vape then keeping it well-maintained is a necessary evil.
Regular maintenance will also ensure your device works optimally without overheating or experiencing blockages, which should prolong its life and ensure you don’t need to replace your kit as often.
So stock up on cleaning supplies such as cotton swabs and isopropyl alcohol to keep your device in tip-top condition. And if you need any advice on cleaning your kit, you’ll find some useful info in our guides.
Knowledge
As you might have noticed in this guide, there are lots of new and unfamiliar concepts to get your head around if you’ve never vaped before. Don’t let this put you off as in all honesty, vaping isn’t as confusing as it may seem when you first start off.
If you follow the advice we’ve set out in this guide then you’ll have all the info you need to get started. And once you’ve gotten used to your vape, everything else will come naturally.
There are also plenty of online resources you can use if you’re ever unsure about anything. We have loads of information in our guides so if you ever have any queries, chances are you can find the answer in our blog section.
Try to familiarise yourself with the concept of ohm resistance, as it influences the vaping experience. If you ever want to switch your vaping style then understanding which coils to buy will make all the difference in the world.
Likewise, an understanding of battery safety will be beneficial if you ever switch to a more powerful, sub-ohm device for some DTL vaping. Understanding battery safety is crucial to prevent any mishaps.
And lastly, as we’ve touched on, you can tailor your vaping experience with different e-liquids. So having a full understanding of nicotine strengths and ratios will allow you to customise your vaping precisely how you want it.
So that’s everything you need as a beginner vaper. As you can see, there are quite a few items to source, but once you’ve got them all, you’ll be ready to wave goodbye to cigarettes and say hello to a much healthier and not to mention tastier hobby!
